Chapter 473: Purehearted Youth (10)

What Xiao Yi was talking about was Xiao He.

Thanks to Mr. Xiao’s tireless persistence, he finally moved Song Qingyun nine years ago and won the beauty’s hand.

Back then, Madam Song was so worried about her eldest daughter’s marriage that she was practically turning gray, and because Song Qingyun was already that age and still unmarried, quite a few people around them gossiped behind their backs. Many even secretly spread rumors that Song Erniang surely had some hidden illness or some flaw in her temperament, that was why she could never find a husband. Even so, the Song Family was still putting on airs and turning their noses up—any Lord whose family circumstances were a bit inferior came to propose, and they weren’t satisfied. With their daughter’s situation, how dared they still be picky? They should be grateful anyone wanted her at all.

Madam Song was so angry that for a while she refused to go out, staying home sighing and talking herself round. Just when she’d finally managed to persuade herself that even if her daughter never married, what of it—the Song Family could afford to support her for life—His Majesty’s favorite at court, newly rewarded by the Holy Emperor for his merits in suppressing a rebellion, and the clear “golden turtle son-in-law” in the eyes of all Western Capital ladies—Xiao Erlang of the Xiao Family actually came to propose! And he said he had adored Qingyun since he was a child!

And that eldest daughter of hers, who had always shown little interest in marriage, actually blushed and nodded, agreeing to this match!

Madam Song was utterly stunned! Overjoyed! Completely incredulous! After she confirmed this wasn’t a dream, nor some play the two youngsters were putting on just to comfort her, she immediately straightened up, terrified her eldest daughter would change her mind. In just half a year she prepared all the wedding arrangements and married her eldest daughter off in grand style.

She even specially instructed the musicians playing the wedding tunes that when they passed the doors of those households that often gossiped about her eldest daughter, they were to blow as hard as they could, play as loudly as they could!

And the day after Xiao He came to propose, all the rumors about the Song Family’s Second Young Lady in the Capital City of Western Capital mysteriously vanished. It was said that previously a certain household’s madam had spent a huge sum to hire the best matchmaker in all Western Capital, wanting to pair Xiao Erlang with her own daughter. Who would have thought that after exhausting every effort, the matchmaker still failed and the Silver she’d already pocketed just flew away like that. The matchmaker was furious, and after Xiao He personally went to the Song Family to propose, she let slip a few malicious comments about Song Erniang. Xiao Erlang of the Xiao Family went straight to her shop that very day and, without another word, took down her signboard.

From then on, who in all Western Capital didn’t know that Xiao Erlang cherished his fiancée down to his bones? Who would still dare say a single bad word about her?

A few years after their marriage, Xiao He was transferred to West Continent, the military stronghold on the northwestern border, to garrison the frontier. West Continent was one of the destinations on this journey of Xiao Huai’an’s.

Xiao Huai’an swallowed the food in his mouth and laughed. “Uncle and Auntie are both very well, and Little Yu’er is very cute. Before I left, Auntie had just safely given birth to a little boy. At the time I was following Uncle in the army for drills. When Uncle heard Auntie was about to give birth, he panicked, dropped all the soldiers and ran. When he went to mount his horse, he actually tried twice before he managed to get on.”

Little Yu’er was the beloved daughter of Xiao He and Song Qingyun.

For a general who commands an army, mounting a horse and fighting in battle are everyday affairs; failing to mount twice in a row is about as outrageous as an ordinary person tripping while walking on flat ground.

It’s not hard to imagine that this episode would surely become a piece of gossip tacitly shared throughout the army.

Xu Jing couldn’t help letting out a little snort of laughter. “Xiao He did mention Qingyun giving birth in his recent letter, but he certainly didn’t say anything about failing to mount his horse. Still, your father’s not much better. When I was giving birth to Ling’er, he was in court discussing next year’s special examination to show imperial grace with a few ministers. The moment he got the message he rushed to go home, and a minister hurriedly handed up a memorial, asking your father to take a quick look and give a few comments before he left. Who knew your father just skimmed it a few times, then in a bold hand wrote the words ‘She’s given birth’ across it, and hurried off.”

Even now, some of the senior ministers will still tease your father with that incident when they see him.

It’s not that the other ministers don’t want to poke fun at their Prime Minister.

It’s that they don’t have the thick skin or the guts of those old-timers.

Xiao Yi: “…”

Weren’t they talking about Xiao He? How did it suddenly get around to him again?

When Xiao Yuyue was born, Xiao Huai’an was still little, so this was his first time hearing the story. He couldn’t help blinking. “Really?”

“Of course it’s true.”

Xu Jing’s eyes curved with laughter. “Don’t be fooled by how stern your father looks on ordinary days—honestly, he’s had his fair share of embarrassing moments…”

Xiao Yi: “…”

Seeing that if this went on any longer he’d completely lose face in front of the children, he couldn’t help quietly saying, “Jing, that reminds me—there’s something I forgot to tell you. Those medicinal herbs you said you wanted, I’ve already arranged for people to look for them overseas for you.”

Xu Jing’s words cut off abruptly; her eyes lit up. “Really?”

Xiao Yi nodded calmly. “Of course. When have I ever lied to you? And that material you mentioned before, called rubber—I’ve also had people bring some back.”

Xu Jing instantly lost her composure.

Three years ago, as the national strength of Great Chu Country grew even more prosperous, someone proposed sending people to explore the wider world overseas.

When Xu Jing heard this, her heart stirred and she immediately asked Xiao Yi to dispatch people to help her look for several kinds of medicinal herbs and materials overseas.

Among them, rubber was one of the materials she wanted most.

With rubber, she could produce large quantities of gloves that fully isolate the hands from the outside world, and she could also make all kinds of infusion tubes, catheters, raincoats, rain boots, and even tires. Whether in autopsies, medicine, or daily life, they would have enormous uses.

She hadn’t expected they would really find it—and bring it back.

Seeing his wife unable to hide her excitement, Xiao Yi rose with a faint smile at the corners of his lips. “I’ve brought everything back and left it in the study. Come with me, I’ll show you.”

And while they were at it, he could give his lady a small lesson.

Let her understand that some things really shouldn’t be said casually in front of the children.

At this moment, Xu Jing was in no state to sense any danger ahead. She immediately abandoned her gaggle of children and followed her husband eagerly.

The all-seeing Xiao Huai’an: “…”

Xiao Yuyue watched her parents’ retreating figures with shining eyes, then suddenly said, “Brother, why do I feel like Father deliberately called Mother away?”

She still wanted to hear Mother tell more of Father’s embarrassing stories.

But Father was so wise and valiant—no matter how many embarrassing things he’d done, it would never change the way she saw him!

Xiao Huai’an withdrew his gaze and picked up a piece of sweet-and-sour pork rib, her favorite, for Xiao Yuyue, smiling as he said, “Father and Mother have their own matters to attend to. Ling’er, just eat your meal. Brother will stay with you.”

On the side, Pengpeng and Little Tiger, who had just finished eating, very fittingly patted their little bellies and let out satisfied burps.

After supper, Xiao Huai’an stayed with his younger siblings to play for a while, and only when it was time for them to rest did he return to his own room.

He had just sat down at his desk, intending to write that day’s diary, when there was a soft knock at his door. Xu Jing walked in, eyes smiling. “Chang Xiao, about to sleep?”

Xiao Huai’an hurriedly stood up and went to meet her. “Not yet. Mother, you haven’t gone to bed either?”

He noticed that his mother had changed into a different set of clothes, and the pure-hearted youth couldn’t help thinking that it seemed Mother had gone to look at that material called rubber with Father, and then taken a bath afterward.

Could it be that this was a kind of material that easily got one dirty? Or that it had a really awful smell?

“Today is your first day back, and I wanted to have a good talk with you. Just now Ling’er and the others were being too noisy.”

Xu Jing said gently, “In the year or so you’ve been away, have you thought about the road you want to take in the future?”